Nice as Pies

The Season So Far:

With only ten teams competing in each Division of the Trowbridge and District League, the season is actually nearly over. In fact the Champions of Division Two have been confirmed already (Seend United). I believe after the League element of the season, the teams then compete in a Spring Cup. Semington Magpies are currently in 5th position, 6 points behind today’s opponents but with 3 games in hand. Last week’s game away at Staverton Rangers was called off due to the rain, and the week before that the Pies crashed out of the Wiltshire Junior Cup to Blunsdon FC of the Swindon and District League (SDFL). Prior to that, however, they managed two impressive away wins against mid-table Marshfield and 2nd place Hilperton United.

Heytesbury FC have had a mixed time of it recently: Last week they beat Westbury United Reserves away 7-3, and before that also exited the Wiltshire Junior Cup to a SDFL team – KO Plastering. November was a mixed bag too with an 8-0 win over Warminster Town Reserves and a draw against bottom side Freshford. The last meeting between Semington and Heytesbury was another high scoring affair – the latter taking the points with a 6-4 win.

Semington will therefore be out for revenge today, while the visitors will be looking to make 3rd place theirs.

The Visit:

Adjacent to a crematorium and over the road from a grit salt storage compound isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find a football pitch. And yet that is where Little Marsh is. Just outside of the village of Semington, between Melksham and Trowbridge is this little ground – home to Semington Magpies of the Trowbridge and District League Division One. The entrance gate is behind the semi-permanent-looking changing rooms and along that nearside are the distinctive dugouts and probably the smallest covered stand I’ve seen. A couple of benches round up the seating arrangements, but given the level of football we’re talking about here this is more than I expected.

It was a chilly day and the players seemed eager to kick off in order to keep warm. The first chance went the way of the home side but a header from a corner was too high. Five minutes later Semington’s number 10 was gifted the ball in the penalty area. His shot on the turn was parried wide, and from the corner they really should’ve scored, but again the header was over the bar. Some good build-up play soon led to Heytesbury’s first sight on goal – number 7 was played in by number 11 and his side-footed effort was off-target with just Cameron Miller in the Magpies’ goal to beat. Some mild controversy came our way around the 25 minute mark as the visitors were awarded a corner despite the ball clearly coming off an away player. This was after a good save from the Miller. Just after the half-hour mark the deadlock was broken – the visiting goalkeeper not covering himself with glory as he failed to deal with a long ball. Semington’s Mark Maguire was left to pass the ball into the empty net. It was almost a lead that the home team almost only held for five minutes: Heytestbury’s number 9 controlled the ball well but was unable to test Miller in the home goal. The final chance of the half saw Semington double their lead – a neat shot on the turn by number 17 beat the visiting goalkeeper.

Four minutes into the second half Heytesbury had the ball in the back of the net as they finally managed a header on target, but the referee spotted some pushing in the box as the ball was floated in from the corner. The away team would be doubly cursing their luck as they found themselves 3 goals down a matter of minutes later. There was a scramble in the box and number 10 poked home – the goal stood despite protests from the visitors who thought there was an infringement during the melee in the penalty area. With less than half and hour to go Heytesbury really should’ve got a goal back as some good attacking play saw the ball come to number 16 who conspired to miss the target when well placed in the box. The same player was guilty again a few minutes later as he headed over a the back post from a great cross. It was a hattrick of misses for number 16 on 68 minutes when he volleyed over from 10 yards out. The 75th minute brought with it Semington’s 4th goal and it was this that really killed the game off. Maguire scored his second with a deft lob over the keeper as he latched on to a good ball over the top. With 6 minutes left on the clock the Magpies added gloss to the scoreline and Maguire got his hattrick. A central freekick was teasingly sent in and Maguire was there to redirect the ball and wrong-foot the Heytesbury keeper.

It was, according to the league table, a real turn up for the book, but Semington did send out a warning of their capabilities with their recent win over local rivals Hilperton. Heytesbury will be disappointed as their quest for 3rd place took a knock. In fact today was their last game (maths is not my strong point and I’ve just realised this after looking at the current league table!) so they will be relying on results elsewhere to remain in 3rd position. Their next game is a cup game against – you’ve guessed it! – Semington Magpies. So a chance for some quick revenge perhaps.